Site Search Navigation

Site Navigation

Site Mobile Navigation

Invitation to a Demolition, on Governors Island

By Sewell Chan October 9, 2008 5:15 pmOctober 9, 2008 5:15 pm

The 10 three-story buildings of Liberty Village, long vacant, will be demolished to make way for a planned park on the southern end of Governors Island. (Photos: Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation)

When buildings in New York City are demolished, the public reaction can range from joy to grief. Rarely, though, is the public invited to actually watch. At noon Friday, the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation will do just that, opening the island to visitors as giant machines destroy a complex of 10 three-story buildings known as Liberty Village.
The buildings were built in 1988 as housing for the Coast Guard, which stopped using the island in 1996. The federal government transferred the island to the state and city of New York in 2003.

The eight acres that Liberty Village now occupies will be part of the area open to the public, starting next season, and “will not sit vacant waiting for future park funding,” said Leslie Koch, president of the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation. The eight-acre site will be a picnic area, and the demolition of the buildings will open up the island’s entire 2.2-mile perimeter to bicyclists and pedestrians for the first time, she said.

“In opening up the southern half of the island, we’re giving the Statue of Liberty back to New York,” Ms. Koch said. “We’re the closest place on land from which you can see the Statue of Liberty’s face. We’re demolishing these buildings to open up green space and let people bike around.”

She noted that the buildings had no architectural or historical significance and that there was no practical way to convert them for a public function.

The long-abandoned buildings look rather grim, and Ms. Koch said that visitors would be able to watch as they were destroyed by a giant excavator known as the Cat 330 LRD, equipped with a demolition grapple.

Liberty Village, with the harbor in the background.

“It’ll be as if the machine is gobbling up the building before your eyes, and where that building was, there’ll be lawn in a few months,” Ms. Koch said.

The design competition included the selection of a five-member to transform the southern, nonhistoric part of the island into a 90-acre public space, including a 40-acre park. But financing for the project remains uncertain — and could be hard to come by as the state and city are grappling with mounting deficits. So far, about $120 million in public financing has been invested.

One bit of good news is that public awareness of Governors Island — open to the public each summer since 2004 — has been steadily increasing.

The island had 26,000 visitors in 2006, 56,000 in 2007 and about 120,000 so far this year. This weekend will be the last time this year that the island is open to the public.

Ms. Koch said she expected a good crowd for the demolition event.

She recalled: “When I told a visitor to the island that he could bring his grandson, I said, ‘This’ll be perfect for a 4-year-old boy.’ He said, ‘What about a 66-year-old man?'”

The 172-acre island lies a mere 800 yards — a seven-minute ferry ride — from the tip of Lower Manhattan.

Wouldn’t it be smarter to wait until the money is available for the park before destroying the buildings?
The face of the Statue of Liberty can be seen on any New York State Licence plate almost as clearly as the faces can be seen of the people who are living on the streets!

I lived on Governors Island on and off for about 5 years. I see no future in the dredged end of the island other than hosting the most beautiful views of NYC that a soul could ask for. Tear them down while you have the money. Weeds look better.

Perhaps with the “financial emergency” upon us, the City and State of New York may want to reconsider whether or not Governor’s Island should be sold for future redevelopment. I’d love to see it turned into a park, but is that the most effective use of such prime real estate at a time like this?

It’s a pity these nice looking buildings are facing the wrecking-ball…They should be shipped by barge, intact, over to Stapleton on Staten Island, where they would help enhance that part of the island considerably.

I worked at a software firm with a 6′ high locker full of good laptop computers. It cost money to dispose of them, they couldn’t be sold for tax reasons and they couldn’t be given to employees, also for tax reasons. So they sat there, they’re probably destroyed by now (that’s OK with the accountants). Polaroid was well known for stuff their dumpsters with products that worked fine but for which the company did not want to sell for whatever reason.

Anyhow, Manhattan is getting ever more dense. A square inch of parkland is pretty valueable and this is the right thing to do.

Destroying viable buildings? That is F^&^%$G insane!!!!
That is the olde style of capitalism and nonprofitism. We need schools, homes, etc etc.

There is already a lot of land and greenery, put it to regular use instead of these piece meal events and activities to make t seem like GIPEC is actually doing something besides burning through our money.

these buildings are NOT inhabitable due to neglect and they are in abysmal structural condition. i am a PE and inspected these buildings so i know what i am talking about.
tear them down and sell the scrap.

I teased my friends at the Bangor Daily News about a building that took so long to build there last year.
I told them that a building here on E. 86th Street was almost completed after three months but, it was going to be torn down as it’s old now.
These buildings could be adapted for more useful purposes than new landfill.
How about a center for people who need to live in a controlled environment due to mild or severe intelligence loss from nerve disorders, or other debilitating illnesses?
These people are the ones who should have a breath taking view of New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty.
God knows that they don’t have anything else to enjoy in this world!

The present financial distress is marked by irrational fear crimping the economy. Hiding under the bed and hoping it goes away will only make it worse.

As Franklin Delano Roosevelt proved in the 1930s, uncertain times may call for bold public works that demonstrate faith in the future. The transformation of Governors Island from an eyesore into a beautiful waterfront park would be an excellent start.

1. There is current money for demolition and the park can not be built until the demolition takes place. And in any case, demolition is the least costly step in developing the park. The buildings remain a financial liability as long a they still stand. Same for my Toyota. I should sell it and get a metrocard.

3. When the federal government essentially put it up for sale in 1995, the island sat for 8 long years. It eventually was sold – to the people of New York for $1. Of course the economic conditions are much better today, so we know it would sell right away….

4 & 5. They do look pretty, but they don’t meet any building code known to any New York building code official. Moving money should go into new construction instead, that is if they could be moved at all. In getting the island for $1, there was a restriction on residental development on the island. The notion about homelessness today is to intergrate them into the community, not on an island.

9. The new school for the island is under currently under renovation for the 2010 school year.

Even if these buildings were in viable condition for habitation, the island itself is in no condition for inhabitation. The water system hasn’t been used enough and the water is currently not potable. They are still unsure of the state of the sewer system after years of neglect and the electrical system could not handle the increased needs of modern life.

Very few people/organizations are willing to take the risk of building on the island with so many unknown infrastructure issues. It has sat empty and closed off to the public for too long. This park is a great idea. Give it back tot he people as soon as possible. A free ferry ride to a nice park is needed when our financial world is crashign down around us.

I’m sitting out on the steps of building 114 on Govervors Island right now, in a rare moment of clear phone service. There are a multitude of historic buildings here, ranging from quaint to grandiose and from institutional to downright creepy. As for the ones that are being torn down they are fairly nondescript military housing facilities built in the ugly eighties and since they and the island itself are rather unihabitable – mainly because of the water issue – I see no harm in replacing them with a park. As I understand it, a stipulation of the purchase was that there be allowed no residences on the island. But there are a handful of decent art shows and festivals out here – The Governors Island Art Fair is having its closing reception this Sunday the 12th after 6 weeks of displaying the work of 50 international artists. Come see it – it’s really well done.

This is a really sad thing to see. I lived there with my older brother and parents from 1989-1996. I wish they were better taken care of after the closing of the island. We were the only family to ever live in our home over that eight year period. As a matter of fact, in the picture above the building (946) in front on the right was where I lived. It was great a view on the third floor. I even remember locking myself out and having to climbing up the balcony and hope the door was unlocked. I have so many great memories in these buildings. It feels like my childhood is being crushed away. I have had some of the most wonderful times of my life and met some of the most wonderful people on this island. If you ask me, it is a waste no matter what anyone says in these comments. WHATS NEXT?

My family and I lived in Liberty Village (948) for 3 years. We were part of the first families to live in these buildings. Is it sad to see them go? Absolutely. Are they worth moving-no. The buildings had issues when we lived there and I’ve seen them for the past 2 summers and it would cost SO much money to fix them to be livable. Many of the items that could be donated were–appliances, doors, etc. From what we saw this summer, the project is being handled very well and they are doing everything possible to use what they can. That part of the island has SPECTACULAR views and I believe a park is a wonderful idea.

What's Next

Looking for New York Today?

New York Today is still going strong! Though no longer on City Room, New York Today continues to appear every weekday morning, offering a roundup of news and events for the city. You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com or in the morning, on The New York Times homepage or its New York section. You can also receive it via email.

Lookin for Metropolitan Diary?

Metropolitan Diary continues to publish! Since 1976, Metropolitan Diary has been a place for New Yorkers, past and present, to share odd fleeting moments in the city. We will continue to publish one item each weekday morning and a round-up in Monday's print edition. You can find the latest entries at nytimes.com/diary and on our New York section online.

About

City Room®, a news blog of live reporting, features and reader conversations about New York City, has been archived. Send questions or suggestions by e-mail.